Due to numerous political incentives, especially relating to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), the renewables share has increased sixfold since 1997 with regard to both primary energy consumption and electricity generation.

An ambitious shift in energy policy, such as the “Energiewende” in Germany, poses great challenges. On the one hand, a rapid phasing-out of nuclear power requires large investment in renewables as well as grid and storage infrastructure. On the other, the energy transition will not be successful without boosting energy efficiency. Mass financing of energy efficiency building upgrades is a key opportunity for Deutsche Bank.

Vice Chairman Caio Koch-Weser participated in a panel discussion on the implications of the US shale oil/gas revolution at a recent energy security conference in Frankfurt. Organized by the Munich Security Conference Foundation and the F.A.Z. Forum, the conference brought together governments, business, academics and NGOs to discuss the economic, environmental and security policy issues surrounding energy security.

The energy sector is the single largest source of climate-changing greenhouse-gas emissions and limiting these is an essential focus of action. This Special Report seeks to bring it right back on top by showing that the dilemma can be tackled at no net economic cost.

How can the energy transition succeed? Energy efficiency in buildings as the central element of future energy policy“ –This was the theme of a conference with high-level participants that the Federation of German Industry (BDI) held on September 14th, 2012, in the atrium of Deutsche Bank in Charlottenstraße in Berlin.

Two thirds of companies expect investments in energy efficiency to increase in the next five years, i.e. 10 percent more than in 2008. One out of every three small to medium sized companies already intend to invest in energy conservation measures in the next 12 months.

How SME sector companies benefit from investments in energy efficiency

More and more companies in the SME sector are investing in energy efficiency. On the one hand, companies are protecting themselves from increasing energy prices by doing so. And on the other they are preparing themselves for the energy transition. Furthermore, it is also possible to attain competitive advantages through more efficient energy consumption. What kind of competitive advantages can be achieved, what investments are the main focus and how can they be financed – a new animation video from Deutsche Bank provides answers to these questions.

Germany's energy turnaround targets objectives that far exceed its legislated, accelerated exit from nuclear power generation. The turnaround will pave the way for municipalities and municipal utilities to enter new spheres of activity in terms of energy provision, the heating market and the transport sector.

Previous DBCCA research notes have analyzed the role of Germany's Act on Granting Priority to Renewable Energy Sources ("the EEG"1) in catalyzing investment to support the rapid scale-up of renewable electricity generation in Germany.2 Following recent changes to the EEG, this report examines the current status of policy and market conditions in Germany and considers the implications of recent changes for investment in wind, biogas, and solar PV generation.

Video: Robert Socolow on the challenges of Germany’s energy transition

An ambitious shift in energy policy, such as the “Energiewende” in Germany, poses great challenges. Professor Robert Socolow, Co-Director of The Carbon Mitigation Initiative at Princeton University and Member of the Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisory Board, on Deutsche Bank’s way to sustainability, energy efficiency and necessary investments in renewables and infrastructure.

Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation instigated this project to encourage the financial industry to scale up financing of building energy efficiency retrofits. Deutsche Bank has a long history of supporting multifamily / affordable housing through its community development finance capabilities, and throughout the world the Bank has played a leadership role on climate issues. Scaling up building retrofits has become a compelling aspiration for the Bank, because of the alignment between our carbon reduction and community development goals.